Pure DiscovR
Pure’s first smart speaker looks beautiful and packs in plenty of features, but it falls behind for sound quality
Despite its pedigree in internet and DAB radios, the DiscovR is Pure’s first voice-controlled smart speaker. It’s opted for Amazon Alexa over the Google Assistant, but this isn’t trying to rival the Echo: with a 2,500mAh battery, it’s a portable speaker with 15 hours of battery life.
It’s also stylish, with a matte aluminium enclosure softened by heavily rounded edges. Encased within is the speaker housing itself, which rises smoothly from its aluminium shell when you push down hard on the top panel. This isn’t just for show: pushing the housing back into the device disconnects the microphone, preventing Alexa from listening, as well as switching the speaker itself off. My only complaint is that it would be better if it were motorised and remotely controllable.
The DiscovR’s controls sit on top of the speaker housing and offer a bewildering number of touchsensitive buttons. From this panel, you can: mute the mic; play/pause/ skip tracks; adjust the volume; select the input source; and activate Alexa without the wake word. For a smart speaker, where physical controls are usually limited, that’s impressive. You can also activate the Discovery feature, which is something of a party piece. Whack the star-shaped button
while the radio is playing and the DiscovR will take note of the song and add it to a Spotify playlist. You can set up four quick-access Alexa commands on each of the four mappable buttons; saving a favourite playlist or radio station is effortless. In contrast, the Pure DiscovR app is sparse, serving mostly as a means to set up the DiscovR and maintain a connection between speaker, smartphone and external apps. While the setup procedure is simple and speedy, I found it annoying that I had to briefly rescan for the DiscovR speaker every time I started the app. You’ll also need the Alexa app to make full use of Amazon’s virtual assistant. With AirPlay 2 being another option, it’s a shame that Pure didn’t cover every base with Google Assistant support. This would have gone well with the ring colouring too. One big missing feature is certified waterproofing. Plus, disconnecting the DiscovR from a solid internet connection will turn this £230 smart speaker into a Bluetooth boombox (if you prefer, you can connect via 3.5mm cable instead). You could use your phone as a mobile hotspot, but the speaker can’t store
“Pushing the housing back into the device disconnects the microphone, preventing Alexa from listening as well as switching the device off”
more than one wireless network at a time. Every time you switch networks, you have to run through the setup routine, which is a pain.
But the real problem for the DiscovR is its audio quality. It has enough volume to easily fill a compact room, but you might not like what you hear. My biggest issue is that the DiscovR sounds too bright, with an overpowering treble response that dominates at both low and high volumes. The bass is punchy for a speaker so small but the overall effect, at normal volume, is the audio equivalent of a sandwich with too little filling.
Compare the DiscovR with a more accomplished speaker such as the Apple HomePod and the DiscovR sounds cheap; in fact, it sounds more or less indistinguishable from JBL’s Charge 3 Bluetooth speaker, which for £100 less offers better protection from the elements, albeit with none of the Pure’s smart features.
There’s no denying that Alexa support brings with it a flurry of convenient features. You can control your smart home, hear the news or weather and set alarms, timers or reminders. The only difference between the DiscovR and an Echo is that you can’t make calls or take advantage of Amazon’s intercom-like Drop In facility. The DiscovR also proved adept at picking up vocal commands from the opposite side of the room, although it struggles more than Echos while music is playing.
No amount of voice-assistant support can mask the fact that Pure is a DAB radio manufacturer first and foremost. Bristling with physical controls as it is, it feels like the DiscovR is almost hoping to convert old-fashioned consumers who remain sceptical of smart speakers, rather than providing a serious alternative to Amazon’s Echo speakers. And the DiscovR might have done a decent job of it, too, were it not for the uninspiring sound quality and unreasonable price. SPECIFICATIONS Alexa Voice Service 2 x 0.25in speakers 3in woofer Bluetooth 4.2 dual-band 802.11ac Wi-Fi 3.5mm audio jack USB-C charging port 2,500mAh battery supports Spotify Connect and Amazon Music 110 x 110 x 105-140mm (WDH) 970g 2yr warranty